CPU-controlled, rearming electronic animal trap with three-killing-plate configuration

ABSTRACT

An electronic animal trap with a CPU-controlled, rearming, three-killing-plate configuration and extended killing cycle for trapping and exterminating larger rodents such as rats. The high-voltage output circuit is connected to a pair of killing plates which are activated with a high-voltage pulse train for a killing cycle when a pest of known impedance is sensed across said pair of plates. A third killing plate, electrically coupled to a first plate of said pair of plates, is brought to the voltage level of the first plate within approximately 1 msec of circuit activation for increased kill and escape-prevention capabilities.

This application is entitled to and hereby claims the priority ofco-pending U.S. Provisional application, Ser. No. 60/499,371 filed Sep.3, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to electric or electronic animal traps, andrelates more particularly to an animal trap adapted to catch andelectrocute a targeted animal, and also to rearm in the event thecontinuing presence of the animal is not detected upon completion of akilling cycle.

2. The Prior Art

A number of animal traps have been developed which include structuraldevices to trap an animal and prevent its escape, along with electric orelectronic components which act to kill the trapped animal.

One such device is found in copending application, Ser. No. 10/043,161,filed Jan. 14, 2002 (the '161 application), now U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,328,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The trapdisclosed in the '161 application is virtually escape-proof,electrocuting the animal while also providing a visual indicatorsignaling when the trap has initiated a kill cycle and thereafterrequires servicing to remove an electrocuted animal.

Other trap designs that have effectively prevented pest-escape in theprior art are set forth in copending application, Ser. No. 10/320,688,filed Dec. 17, 2002 (the '688 application), now U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,899,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The divertertraps disclosed in the '688 application utilize at least two fixedbarriers or diverter members that are positioned between the opening ofthe trap and a pair of spaced charge plates electrically connected to avoltage source. The two charge plates are configured such that contactwith both charge plates simultaneously by a target animal will actuatethe electric charge to effectively kill the animal.

While these traps may be used effectively with smaller rodents andinsects, a problem still exists with larger pests such as rats in that,while the trap may have been triggered by an animal so as to initiatethe kill cycle and subsequent entry into a standby mode requiringservice to reset the trap, larger vermin may not have been able to fitinto the trap or, if subjected to the voltage, may not have been killedand may have escaped. As a result, since the standby mode indicates thepresence of a dead pest, because it was in fact initiated by a falsetrigger, wasted effort is expended by exterminator personnel or otherusers in servicing and resetting a trap which is, in fact, alreadyempty.

Therefore, a need exists for a trap that combines an electronic circuithaving higher voltage to provide greater killing power, with a detectionmechanism that is able to rearm the trap without human intervention inthe event of pest escape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is toovercome the difficulties due to false-positive indications from anelectronically-controlled animal trap.

Another object of the present invention is to provide anelectronically-controlled animal trap having a more powerfulelectrocution capability, reducing the likelihood of pest survival andescape once the trap has been activated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide anelectronically-controlled animal trap that is able to detect the absenceof an animal and thereafter to rearm itself multiple times withoutrequiring human intervention.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectronically-controlled animal trap with reduced servicingrequirements through automatic rearming in the event of animal escape.

In accordance with this and other objects, the present invention isdirected to a rearming, high-voltage, electronic animal trap for killingand retaining target animals, typically larger rodents such as rats,squirrels, and chipmunks, as well as mice. The trap includes amicro-controller chip with a high voltage circuit for generating anddelivering a high-voltage pulse train to a set of killing plates for anextended killing cycle. The circuit is activated through connection by aknown impedance between two active plates, with a third plate beingnearly simultaneously activated as a result. If, upon conclusion of thekilling cycle, the impedance remains across the plates, the circuitactivates a visual indicator to alert a user that the trap contains adead rodent. If, on the other hand, the impedance increases to that ofan open circuit, likely meaning the animal has escaped, the circuitautomatically rearms itself and no visual indicator is initiated. Theincreased power of the three-killing-plate configuration, combined withthe extended killing cycle, provides enhanced kill ratios when dealingwith larger, more robust rodents.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The combination of elements, arrangement of parts and features ofconstruction that lead to the rearming animal trap withthree-killing-plate configuration of the instant invention will bepointed out in more detail hereinafter with respect to the accompanyingdrawings in which like parts are designated by like reference charactersthroughout the several views of the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 a block diagram of the high-voltage, rearming circuitry withthree-killing-plate configuration according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electronic animaltrap that may be used with the high-voltage rearming circuitry accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the animal trap embodiment of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the animal trap embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view from the entrance end of the animal trap of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the high-voltage rearming electronic circuitaccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the high-voltage rearmingelectronic circuit with three-killing-plate configuration of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although only a few preferred embodiments of the invention are explainedin detail, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possibleand likely. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention is to belimited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed or carried out in various ways. Also, in describing thepreferred embodiments, specific terminology will be resorted to for thesake of clarity. It is to be understood that each specific term includesall technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner toaccomplish a similar purpose.

Although the concepts of the instant invention are equally applicable totraps for animals of any size, devices of this type are primarilyutilized in connection with the trapping of larger rodents such as ratsand, therefore, further discussion herein will be primarily directed tothis application.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the rearming circuit components, generallydesignated by the reference numeral 100, according to the presentinvention. The circuit components 100 include a high-voltage outputcircuit 10 controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 12 andelectrically connected to a power supply 14. The CPU 12 may be embodiedas a standard 8-bit micro controller chip, and the high output circuit10 can be a standard fly-back circuit.

A first electrical connection member 16, which may be embodied as awire, receives current from the high-voltage output circuit 10 and alsoconnects to a first killing plate 18 so that electricity can be providedthereto. A second electrical connection member 20, which may also be awire, connects the high-voltage output circuit 10 to a second killingplate 22. The first and second killing plates 18, 22 are the activeplates which trigger activation of the circuit. A third killing plate 24is coupled to the first plate 18 by a third electrical connection member17 and automatically goes to the voltage level of the first plate 18when the circuit is activated. The circuit is turned on to an enabledstate by a switch 26 accessible from the exterior of the trap andadjacent an LED 28 which provides the user with visual indicators oftrap operating status.

Before describing the structure and operation of the rearming circuitcomponents 100 of the present invention in detail, a representative trapembodiment within which the circuitry may be incorporated will bebriefly explained in order to provide the necessary backdrop for a fullunderstanding of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 depict two perspective views of an electronic animal trap,generally designated by the reference numeral 200, which is suitable foruse with the high-voltage, rearming circuitry of the present invention.Side and end views of the trap are set forth in FIGS. 4 and 5,respectively.

As shown, the housing 30 has a bottom wall 32, upstanding side walls 34,and a roof 36 provided with an electronics chamber 38 and a batterycover 40. The upper surface of the electronics chamber 38 carries theswitch 26 or button that toggles from an “on” or standby position, inwhich the circuit may be activated, to an “off” or reset position, andthe LED 28.

The LED 28 is mounted on the upper surface of the electronics chamber 38to provide visual indications of the activity and status of the trap.The LED 28 turns “on” or flashes to provide a visual indication to theuser during activation of the trap and thereafter when the trap containsa dead rat as will be more fully described hereinafter. Additional LEDsmay also be included should separate indicators of differing colors bedesired.

The battery cover 40 covers an area which contains the power supply 14.Of course, the assembly may be simplified by using a single coverportion for the electronics chamber and the power supply. Thehigh-voltage output circuitry of the present invention may also beincorporated within any of the embodiments shown in the '688application, as well as in the '161 application, and the presentapplication is intended to cover all such embodiments.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom wall or base 32, side walls34, back wall 42, front overhang 44, and roof 36 together define anenclosure or killing chamber for the targeted animal. The side walls 34define the elongated passageway leading toward the back wall 42 from theentrance opening 46 which communicates with the exterior of the housing30.

The power supply 14 which provides power to the trap can include one ormore batteries, such as two AA batteries. Alternatively, the trap may beelectrically connected to a wall outlet. When embodied as a battery, thepower supply 14 may be conveniently located in the power supply areaunder the battery cover 40. The battery cover 40 is preferably snapfitted for easy entry to replace expired batteries.

In use, the high-voltage output circuit 10 is electrically connected tothe power supply 14 to convert the power to electricity. The firstelectrical connection member 16 receives the electricity from thehigh-voltage output circuit 10 and also connects to the first plate 18near the back wall 42 so that electricity can be provided thereto. Thesecond electrical connection member 20 connects to the second plate 22in the middle of the trap to provide electricity to the second plate 22,while the third plate 24 at the entrance 46 to the trap is coupled tothe first plate by the third electrical connection member 17.

As shown, the first, second and third plates 18, 22, 24 are immediatelyadjacent to one another, but in spaced relationship. A rodent enteringthe trap passes over the third plate 24 and onto the second plate 22without incident. By placing its front paws on the first plate 18 whileits rear paws are still on the second plate 22, however, the advancingrodent completes the electrical circuit, allowing an electric current toflow between the first plate 18 and the second plate 22. The third plate24, through the third electrical connection 17, is brought to thevoltage level of the first plate 18 within approximately 1 ms. Thisforces the rodent forward toward the back wall 42 while effectivelyactivating the entire floor area, reducing the likelihood of escape andmore surely resulting in fatal electrocution of the rodent.

As shown in FIG. 4, the height of the trap decreases gradually from theentrance 46 to the back wall 42, beginning at approximately 4 19/32″ anddeclining to a height of 4¼″. This provides a more inviting approachfrom a rodent's perspective and also reduces the amount of spaceavailable for evasive action once inside the trap. The width of the trapmay also decline from the entrance 46 to the back wall 42, againattracting rodents who prefer close spaces while limiting theirmaneuverability. The overall length of the trap is approximately 8½″with a width at the base of the entrance 46 of just under 4″.

As shown in FIG. 5, the back wall 42 is provided with openings 48 whichallow the smell of the bait to permeate the area around the trap, whilealso allowing the rodent to sample the bait without entering the trap.This increases the interest of the rodent, providing positivereinforcement so as to overcome their natural tentativeness,particularly in the case of rats, concerning new places. As theconfidence of the pest increases, and with the improved visibility intothe trap provided by light entering the openings 48, it becomesincreasingly likely that the rodent will enter the trap in order toobtain a larger portion of the bait contained therein.

The three-killing-plate configuration of the present invention may beincorporated into other representative embodiments of an electronic trapsuitable for use with the circuitry of the present invention, such asthe diverter trap which is fully disclosed in the '688 application andpreviously incorporated by reference.

The operation of the high-voltage, rearming circuitry of the presentinvention in conjunction with traps of the foregoing types will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 6, which illustrates a flow chart ofthe electrical circuit according to the present invention; FIG. 7illustrates the same circuit in schematic form. The reference in FIG. 6to a “mouse” as the subject pest is representative only and is intendedto include all vermin to which the trap according to the presentinvention may be applied.

To commence operation of the trap, power is applied to the high-voltageoutput circuit 10, either from a battery or an electrical outlet. Theunit is turned on, step 300, by a user using the switch 26, therebyplacing the trap into an enabled condition. Upon entry into the enabledcondition, the LED 28 flashes green once, step 302, and then turns off.The high-voltage output circuit 10 detects the battery status and, ifthe battery power is low, step 304, the LED flashes red one or moretimes, step 306, as a visual indicator to the user that the batteriesshould be replaced. Upon conclusion of the red LED flashing procedure,and also if the battery power is found to be sufficient in step 304, theunit remains in the enabled condition in a standby mode, step 308.

As an alternative indicator in the event of low battery power, the LEDmay flash red on a continuing and regular basis. If the trap includesonly one LED, then green flashing thereof concurrent with the redflashing will change the output color of the LED to indicate to the userthat both conditions are being reported. The red and green colors areprovided by diodes of appropriate colors within the circuit.

The circuit 100 is triggered or activated, step 310, when a knownimpedance is sensed across the killing plates 18, 22. According to apreferred embodiment, the impedance resulting in activation of thecircuit is 10K-1M ohms as a resistance level representative of a rat.Depending upon the resistors used to construct the circuit 10, otherresistance levels could, of course, be implemented to suit the intendedtarget animal.

Once activated, the circuit 10 delivers a high voltage pulse train tothe killing plates 18, 22, 24; plates 18 and 22 are activated first,with the third plate 24 going live approximately 1 ms later. The highvoltage pulses delivered to the killing plates are preferably deliveredas spikes of approximately 7500V occurring every 4.25 ms over about a120-second killing cycle, step 312. Upon completion of the killingcycle, current to the plates is terminated, and the battery level ischecked, step 314. As before, if the battery power is low, step 314, theLED flashes red one or more times, step 316, as a visual indicator tothe user that the batteries should be replaced. Upon conclusion of thered LED flashing procedure, and also if the battery power is found to besufficient in step 314, the unit checks a stored trigger count, step318, to determine if the circuit has been activated three times sinceentering the standby mode at step 308.

If the trigger count is equal to three, flashing of the green LED at aregular interval is initiated, step 320, and the unit does not reenterthe enabled condition. Particularly, the LED flashes green once, checksto see whether 24 hours have elapsed, step 322 and, if 24 hours have notelapsed, repeats the flash and check cycle, steps 320 and 322. Accordingto a preferred embodiment, the LED flashes green once every 5 seconds.When 24 hours have elapsed following the initiation of step 320, theunit is turned off, step 324.

If the trigger count is less than three, the unit checks for thecontinued existence of the target impedance across the plates, step 326,which indicates the continued presence of the mouse. If such resistanceis still detected after 15 seconds, the unit initiates the regularflashing and checking cycle, steps 320, 322, to visually notify the userthat the trap contains an electrocuted animal. The green flashing of theLED continues until the user services the trap or for a 24 period, step322, whichever occurs first, after which the unit is turned off.

If there is no trigger resistance, step 326, i.e., an open circuit(static voltage) is sensed between the killing plates, the unit rearmsto the enabled condition in standby mode, step 308, and thereafterawaits another rodent trigger. In this case, the LED does notilluminate, precluding the user from responding to a false-positivecondition.

According to the preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 6, in theevent that the presence of the rodent is not detected following thekilling cycle, the circuit will rearm itself twice in the manner justdescribed, preferably within five seconds of completing the killingcycle. Once the unit has been triggered three times, step 318, theflashing and rechecking cycle is entered, steps 320, 322, regardless ofload impedance on the killing plates, followed by unit shut-down after24 hours. As would be apparent to persons of skill in the art, thecircuit may be designed to rearm a greater or fewer number of timesbefore turning off, depending upon system and user requirements.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readilyoccur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction and operation shown and describedand, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

1. An electronic pest trap comprising: a trap body having a power sourceand a switch mechanism for placing said trap into an active standbymode; first, second and third spaced killing plates positioned withinsaid trap body, said third killing plate electrically connected to saidfirst killing plate; and a high-voltage automatic rearming circuitcoupled to said first and second spaced killing plates, said circuitincluding, an element for sensing, with said trap in said active standbymode, a pest across said first and second killing plates as a positiveload input, a body of said pest across said first and second killingplates closing said circuit to thereby effect automatic activationthereof such that said power source delivers a high-voltage pulse trainthrough said circuit to said first and second killing plates for a timeperiod corresponding to a killing cycle, voltage delivered to said firstkilling plate activating said third killing plate electrically connectedthereto; and a timing mechanism for terminating current flow to saidkilling plates upon completion of said killing cycle.
 2. The electronicpest trap as set forth in claim 1, wherein said killing cycle includesdelivery of a pulse train of approximately 7500V to said killing platesevery 4.25 msec for about 120 seconds.
 3. The electronic pest trap asset forth in claim 1, wherein said third killing plate is brought to thevoltage level of said first killing plate in approximately 1 msec ofcircuit activation.
 4. The electronic pest trap as set forth in claim 1,wherein said third killing plate is adjacent an entrance to said trap,said first killing plate is located farthest from said entrance withinsaid trap body, and said second killing plate is located intermediatesaid first and third killing plates.
 5. The electronic pest trap as setforth in claim 1, wherein said circuit is configured to verify batterypower level and initiate a visual indicator in response to a low batterypower level.
 6. The electronic pest trap as set forth in claim 5,wherein said visual indicator f or low battery power level includes ared LED.
 7. The electronic pest trap as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid circuit is configured to check a stored trigger count indicating anumber of previous killing cycles completed by said circuit to determinewhether a sum of said killing cycle and said stored trigger count hasreached a threshold value, to automatically rearm said circuit inresponse to said sum being less than said threshold value in combinationwith a negative load input from said sensing element, and to initiate,in response to said sum being equal to said threshold value or to saidsum being less than said threshold value in combination with continuedreceipt of said positive load input from said sensing element, a visualnotification mode indicating manual service of said trap is required. 8.The electronic pest trap as set forth in claim 7, wherein said thresholdvalue is three.
 9. The electronic pest trap as set forth in claim 7,wherein said visual notification mode includes a green LED that flashesintermittently.
 10. The electronic pest trap as set forth in claim 9,wherein said visual notification mode further includes a timer fordetermining a duration of said visual notification mode.
 11. Anelectronic pest trap comprising: a trap body having a power source and amechanism for placing said trap into an active standby mode; a pluralityof killing plates positioned within said trap body; a high-voltageautomatic rearming circuit coupled to said killing plates, said circuit,with said trap in said active standby mode, automatically activating inresponse to closure of said circuit by a pest body across a pair of saidkilling plates such that said power source delivers a high-voltage pulsetrain through said circuit to said killing plates for a time period; atiming mechanism for terminating current flow to said killing platesupon completion of said time period; and said circuit being configuredto automatically rearm said trap to said active standby mode in responseto detecting an absence of a pest body across said killing plates. 12.The electronic pest trap as set forth in claim 11, wherein saidplurality of killing plates includes first, second and third killingplates, said third killing plate adjacent an entrance to said trap, saidfirst killing plate located farthest from said entrance within said trapbody, and said second killing plate located intermediate said first andthird killing plates.
 13. The electronic pest trap as set forth in claim11, wherein said plurality of killing plates includes first and secondkilling plates directly coupled to said circuit, and a third killingplate receiving said high-voltage pulse train via said first killingplate.
 14. The electronic pest trap as set forth in claim 13, whereinsaid third plate is brought to a voltage level of said first plateapproximately 1 msec after said first and second plates are activated bysaid high-voltage pulse train.
 15. A method for exterminating a pestusing an electronic pest trap having a high-voltage rearming circuitelectrically coupled to a plurality of killing plates, said methodcomprising the steps of: a) placing the trap into an active standby modein which said circuit is open due to separation of said killing plates;b) automatically activating said circuit in response to closure of saidcircuit by a pest body across a pair of said killing plates; c)delivering, by said circuit upon said automatic activation, ahigh-voltage pulse train to said pair of killing plates; d) terminatingcurrent flow to said killing plates after a specified time period; ande) automatically rearming said trap to said active standby mode upondetecting an absence of a pest body across said killing plates.
 16. Themethod as set forth in claim 15, wherein said plurality of killingplates includes first, second and third killing plates, said thirdkilling plate adjacent an entrance to said trap, said first killingplate located farthest from said entrance within said trap body, andsaid second killing plate located intermediate said first and thirdkilling plates, said pair of killing plates in step b) being said firstand second plates.
 17. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein saidplurality of killing plates includes first and second killing platesdirectly coupled to said circuit, and a third killing plate receivingsaid high-voltage pulse train via said first killing plate.
 18. Themethod as set forth in claim 17, wherein said third killing plate isbrought to a voltage level of said first killing plate approximately 1msec after said high-voltage pulse train is delivered to said pair ofkilling plates.
 19. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein step c)includes delivering a pulse train to said killing plates ofapproximately 7500V every 4.25 msec for about 120 seconds.
 20. Themethod as set forth in claim 15, wherein said step e) of automaticallyrearming can occur at least three times.